New Zealand pair set for Lord's umpiring double

New Zealand's Billy Bowden and Tony Hill will become the first neutral umpires from the same country to officiate together in a Test match at Lord's on Thursday.

The duo will be in the middle for the fourth and final Test between England and Pakistan. Bowden, who will be standing in his 62nd Test match, said: "To umpire with my fellow New Zealander Tony Hill for the first-time ever in a Test match will be special.

"To be at Lord's and to create a little piece of history by being the first two neutral umpires from the same country to umpire there makes it super special," he added. "Yes, it will be a proud moment for us, our families, New Zealand Cricket and to all our fellow umpires in New Zealand.

We will be proud Kiwis for sure as we walk out to the middle. "It is a testimony to the umpiring structure that has been put in place in New Zealand and I trust in a small way it will inspire future generations of Test umpires from New Zealand." Hill, who like Bowden hails from Auckland, added: "To say I am looking forward to the Lord's Test is an understatement.

"Although I have already stood there for a couple of shorter version games, to get to stand in a Test there is brilliant. "To have a Kiwi at the other end is a bonus and the full impact of the occasion probably won't sink in for a while yet." This will be Hill's 20th Test match. England lead the series 2-1.